Sikyong Lobsang Sangay launched a CTA-sponsored book that glorifies Tibetan suicide by self-immolation.

The opinion piece below was sent to dorjeshugden.com for publication. We accept submissions from the public, please send in your articles to ds@dorjeshugden.com.

By: Shashi Kei

It has been 60 years since the Dalai Lama fled Tibet to set up an exile government in Dharamsala, North India. As a third generation of Tibetan refugees drift with uncertain futures in exile, most of them today have not seen, let alone lived in, their homeland. And yet a deep ultranationalism accompanied by animosity towards China persists due to very effective indoctrination that has been championed by the Dalai Lama’s exile Tibetan leadership, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).

Faced with a powerful nemesis and finding itself with no military or economic might, the CTA has instead co-opted two very powerful weapons in its assault against China – the Dalai Lama and the Buddhist religion. In the name of the Dalai Lama, the CTA commandeered Buddhism as a political tool and with that, created pockets of anti-China agitators in every place in the world where the Tibetan Buddhist faith is being practiced.

According to the CTA’s narrative, the proper practice of the Buddha’s teachings compels unquestioning compliance with all of the Dalai Lama’s thoughts, which by extension, translates into the CTA’s policies and its political aspirations. The Dalai Lama is presented as a Buddha and hence all Buddhist adherents owe him a duty of obedience. In doing this, the CTA places the Dalai Lama at risk of being compared to the infamous Pope Boniface VIII, the megalomaniacal pontiff who decreed that salvation was not possible unless the people subjected themselves to him completely. Similarly, one is not a proper Buddhist unless one supports the Dalai Lama ergo, the CTA. This is notwithstanding the fact that the Dalai Lama is not even the absolute spiritual head of his own lineage, the Gelug school, let alone of Buddhism overall.

The CTA has subtly encouraged Tibetan self-immolation as a means to create sympathy for its political agenda. Over 150 Tibetans have perished unnecessarily over the years. When will the CTA finally speak up strongly to discourage the Tibetans from self-harm?

Being in exile accorded the Dalai Lama more power than any of his predecessors or any other Tibetan Buddhist figure, as the world became intoxicated with the Shangrila myth. It is upon this privilege and power that the CTA draws its legitimacy. In the decades since the Dalai Lama escaped Tibet, the Tibetan leader has commanded immense vogue and created a significant global space within which the CTA has increasingly worked its mischief, often undermining the Dalai Lama’s efforts.

The Sabotage

A number of incidences bear testimony to this. For instance, in July 2017 amid a tense standoff between India and China, the President of the CTA Lobsang Sangay decided it was an opportune time to assert Tibetan independence, and to raise the Tibetan flag at Pangong Tso (Pangong Lake), which lies between India and China. Sangay’s taunt of China was all the more provocative given it was done within eyeshot of Tibet. That injudicious act infuriated China, a result at odds with India’s seeking of a peaceful solution to its border woes. To redress the injury, the Indian Foreign Secretary subsequently instructed all Indian government officials to refrain from participating in Tibetan events organized to mark the 60^th anniversary of the Dalai Lama’s exile in India. In essence, the CTA significantly diminished almost 60 years of goodwill the Dalai Lama had built with the CTA’s generous host.

More recently, the Dalai Lama’s efforts to close the gap between Dharamsala and Beijing with accord on spiritual matters has been brazenly thwarted by his own Tibetan government-in-exile. In April 2018, the Dalai Lama acknowledged that the China-enthroned Panchen Lama Gyaincain Norbu is in fact the “official Panchen Lama”, a statement that effectively endorses China’s legitimacy in recognizing and enthroning high lamas. This represents a complete reversal of the Tibetan leadership’s past stance, which asserted that Gyancain Norbu is merely a political stooge and a false incarnation of the popular 10^th Panchen Lama. Given the importance of the Panchen Lama, deemed to be the highest-ranking Tibetan lama in China, the Dalai Lama’s acceptance of the Chinese Panchen Lama was clearly designed to thaw relations with Beijing and draw parties back to the negotiation table. The head of the CTA, Lobsang Sangay was with the Dalai Lama when his proclamation on Gyancain Norbu was made and so there cannot have been a miscommunication.

His Holiness the 11th Panchen Lama, Gyaincain Norbu.

Nevertheless, just two days later, the CTA saw it fit to publish on its official website an article critical of the Chinese Panchen Lama and demanded the release of their authorized Panchen Lama candidate, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima whom they claim had been kidnapped by China in 1995. To ensure that their point was not lost, another two stories were published on the CTA website in May 2018, both critical of the Chinese Panchen Lama. In essence, these stories demolished whatever foundations of friendship the Dalai Lama was constructing with Beijing.

Co-opting Buddhism

Not content with undermining the Dalai Lama’s diplomacy on the domestic front, the CTA has gone international with its attempts. In his recent speeches made during world tours, Lobsang Sangay has framed the Sino-Tibetan conflict as the struggle between Communism and Buddhism, masquerading the fact that it is more accurately a quarrel over who has dominion over the Tibetan nation – a communist regime or a feudal theocracy to whom the Tibetan people were regarded as mere chattel prior to 1959.

The CTA’s misuse of Buddhism is subtle but delivers devastating effect. An example is the Tibetan leadership’s 1996 ban on the worship of a popular Tibetan Buddhist deity, Dorje Shugden. The 2004 Human Rights Watch Report on Tibet dedicates an entire section to Dorje Shugden, articulating how the CTA’s diktat on the Shugden practice created deep divisions amongst Tibetans in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and worldwide. Banning the worship of Dorje Shugden was a calculated and deft strategy. Dorje Shugden, an ancient deity worshipped by many Tibetan Buddhist schools, was carefully chosen from amongst the thousands of deities in the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon due to the popularity of his practice.

The International Shugden Community, whose members comprise of Shugden practitioners from all over the world, have suffered discrimination

The CTA conceived the idea of Dorje Shugden being an instrument of the Chinese, constructed with the aim of destabilizing the reign of the Dalai Lama. In this way, Tibetans were pitted against one another. Dorje Shugden practitioners on the one hand were summarily painted as anti-Tibet, anti-Dalai Lama and pro-Chinese traitors while non-Dorje Shugden practitioners were pro-Tibet and pro-Dalai Lama. The result of all this was unrest within the TAR, precisely what the Chinese government fears most due to the tendency for unrest to escalate into uprisings in China’s frontier regions. It was a clever ruse on the part of the CTA, turning Tibetan Buddhists worldwide into de facto Tibet activists, intent on suppressing Dorje Shugden practitioners with the TAR and across the globe, all for the sake of the so-called ‘Tibet cause’.

A Noxious Assault on Freedom

Whilst effective, this strategy exacts a very high attrition on communities dragged into supporting the CTA’s agenda, namely discord and disharmony in erstwhile peaceful societies not involved in Sino-Tibetan aggressions. Still, it is a cost the CTA seems prepared to inflict as we see in its recent interference in Taiwanese spiritual affairs. Since 1949 Taiwan and China have had fraught relations. As tensions renewed between the two nations under Taiwan’s new President, Tsai Ing-wen, the CTA waded in to introduce further enmity and mistrust between the small island nation and the juggernaut China.

In August 2018, CTA representative Dawa Tsering proudly launched a new anti-Shugden book in Taiwan, titled “Tibetan Dharma Protectors, Deities and Demons”

In August 2018, the CTA via its agency Snowland Publications in Taiwan published Tibetan Dharma Protectors, Deities and Demons. The book was written in Chinese with a foreword by Dawa Tsering, the CTA’s representative in Taiwan. At first glance, the publication of an educational book on Tibetan Buddhism seems benign enough. However, on closer inspection, it bears all the hallmarks of good propaganda material created with one intention – to use the Dorje Shugden issue to divide the community and blame China.

With chapter titles like “How did Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen [who arose as the said divinity Dorje Shugden] become an evil spirit”; and “The Poison of Dolgyal [a derogatory name for the deity]” and “The Consequences of Propitiating Shugden” there is no doubt what the objective of the book is. Not a single page acknowledges the fact that the highest lamas of the Gelug and the Sakya, including the 14^th Dalai Lama, had worshipped the deity.

Dawa Tsering said in an interview with Radio Free Asia that Dorje Shugden “violates Buddhism” while sidestepping the fact that the very idea of a book that disparages a religion and seeks to create disharmony in a foreign state violates the simplest concept of freedom and decency. This is the CTA once again undermining the Dalai Lama’s work to portray the Tibetans as harmless and soulful citizens of a heavenly Himalayan nation.

Not only is it suspicious that an official of the supposedly democratic CTA is again conflating religion and politics, but now the CTA is stirring trouble in another country whose religious affairs are of no concern to any foreign government, let alone an exiled and stateless administration whose primary preoccupation should be the welfare of its refugee populace and the fulfilment of the Dalai Lama’s wish to return to Tibet.

Prior to the new Taiwanese publication, Lobsang Sangay had launched yet another anti-Shugden book in 2016, written with the purpose of segregating and creating further divisions within the Tibetan community.

The CTA’s latest anti-Shugden book purports to expose Taiwanese Buddhist groups that it claims have been infiltrated by the Chinese government. The basis of this allegation is purely on account of the groups’ worship of Dorje Shugden, the deity that the CTA had pre-emptively outlawed despite claiming to be a democracy. According to the book’s line of thought, the evil government of China has corrupted Buddhism in Taiwan and therefore, even if a Buddhist practitioner has no interest in Sino-Tibetan politics, he should still oppose China as a means of defending the integrity of his faith. That makes him a supporter of the Dalai Lama and CTA by default.

The CTA’s act has far-reaching consequences:

• To begin with, it trespasses on Taiwan’s spiritual affairs, rightly an internal issue that the CTA should have no say over.
• It specifically targets certain Taiwanese Buddhist groups. Thus, the CTA is implying that all good Taiwanese Buddhists should disregard Taiwan’s laws that provide for freedom of religion, and instead obey the CTA’s decrees.
• It attempts to criminalize Taiwanese citizens who choose not to abide by the CTA’s diktats regarding Dorje Shugden.
• It conflates spirituality with politics, implying that a Taiwanese citizen’s personal choice of worship is somehow a reflection of their private political beliefs.
• It brings to Taiwan the same unrest it created within the TAR and in other Tibetan Buddhist communities worldwide.
• It is an external administration passing judgement on Taiwanese citizens, thereby disregarding the sovereignty that Taiwan claims for itself and its people. How is that any different from, say, Germany passing a decree about Greek citizens? Or from China making decisions on Taiwan’s behalf, to put it into a context a Taiwanese citizen can relate to?

The CTA’s own treatment of Shugden Buddhists is nothing short of draconian. For instance, it publishes on its official website a series of notices and parliamentary resolutions that criminalizes Shugden worship and compels the Tibetan populace to apply pressure on Shugden Buddhists to give up their faith. Now the CTA wants the people of Taiwan to similarly turn on their own countrymen and splinter the Taiwanese Buddhist community. The deeply divided Tibetan community worldwide and the unrest in the TAR such as that reported by the Human Rights Watch in 2004 bear witness to the damage suffered by those who have listened to the CTA.

The official website of the Central Tibetan Administration carries material that undemocratically accuses Dorje Shugden practitioners worldwide to be “Chinese spies” and “criminals in history”. Click to enlarge.

What the CTA aims to do – constrain the people’s choice of belief while planting dissension and bringing strife upon Taiwan’s Buddhist community – contravenes the most fundamental international laws that prohibit a State from interfering with the internal affairs of another State thereby compromising its sovereignty. This is notwithstanding the fact that the CTA is not legally a State by the definition of established International Law, although it behaves and demands to be accorded the privileges and status of one. In fact, for 60 years, the CTA has acted outside the ambit of every global regulatory body and the reach of international law, a convenience they have exploited fully. Next, and given prevailing tensions between Taiwan and China, the CTA’s book that accuses Shugden Buddhists of being Chinese agents serves to induce further sentiments detrimental to the development of peaceful reunification between Taiwan and China. Stirring anti-China sentiments can only damage cross-strait ties at a time when they are already frail.

A Simple Business Decision

It may perplex some to see how a government that claims to base its policies on Buddhist values such as ahimsa (non-violence or non-injury) engage in such treachery to serve its political agenda. This is especially so when the Dalai Lama became famous off the back of touting messages of peace all over the world, even being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. But there is a simple explanation – the CTA is after all an exile government and as such, its reason for existing holds only as long as the 150,000 or so Tibetans who followed the Dalai Lama into exile continue to be refugees.

The CTA’s locus standi ends the moment the Dalai Lama’s spiritual and political plans are accomplished, symbolized by his return to China-controlled Tibet. The success of the Dalai Lama’s work comes at the demise of the CTA, which will simply have no role in the TAR. It is highly unlikely China will consider, let alone allow, for a separate administration to operate autonomously with its own set of rules, especially one that has spent six decades actively seizing every opportunity to destabilize the region.

The CTA will have to dissolve its core and supporting structures including the countless Office of Tibet premises around the world that have drawn, according to conservative estimates, an annual average of USD50 million into the CTA’s coffers for the past 60 years. This money is supposed to be applied towards improving the standard of living of the Tibetan refugees but, given the string of global propaganda campaigns that keep resentment towards China at a peak, critics cannot help but wonder if the donations and grants have been used to bankroll the CTA’s schemes instead.

Should the Dalai Lama manage to draw the Chinese government into a settlement, this gravy train would come to an abrupt halt and career politicians like Lobsang Sangay would lose all prestige accorded him. He will instead have to return to his position as an assistant lecturer, given the lack of demand in the otherwise lucrative lecture circuit for a failed President who has no achievements to call his own. Which politician-businessman would seek such an end? There are such incongruities between what the CTA portrays and its actions that lend credence to China’s labelling of the CTA as a “separatist government”. The Dalai Lama has called for a cessation of CTA hostilities towards China saying that it is foolish to regard China as the enemy and that the past is past. Clearly, the CTA disagrees. It cannot afford not to.

中国染指“凶天”渗透分化海外藏人

Source: https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/hx1-08202018101135.html. Click to enlarge.

A great start to kick off the new year: Our fellow Shugdenpas in the East were fortunate to receive initiations and teachings from one of the greatest Lamas of our time, His Eminence Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche, who spent the best part of January 2015 in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Yongyal Rinpoche’s dharma mastery and attainments are well documented in his biography, proof of his pure dedication towards the Dharma since he was enthroned at the age of 6. A student of many illustrious masters including H.H. Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang, Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche is the Abbot of Serpom Monastery in India and the founder of the Lamrim International Dharma Centre in Los Angeles.

Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche willingly took on the responsibilities and challenges of guiding the monks of Sera Mey’s Pomra Khamtsen when they had no choice but to leave Sera Mey Monastery and form Serpom Monastery, in order to keep their commitments and practice of Dorje Shugden. It is a reflection of Yongyal Rinpoche’s sincerity, devotion and limitless compassion that he tirelessly shouldered the burden of ensuring all 600 monks of Serpom Monastery were adequately provided for, both in terms of their basic needs as well as their spiritual education, in addition to guiding his own Dharma centre in Los Angeles.

This precious erudite son of the Gelug lineage has traveled widely, like his predecessors, to spread the Buddhadharma and Lama Tsongkapa’s tradition far and wide. In January 2015 alone, Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche gave the initiations and commentaries of Yamantaka, Guhyasamaja and Vajrayogini to lay and ordained practitioners at Thoesam Norling Buddhist Centre in Taipei, Taiwan, followed by a Medicine Buddha initiation in Taipei’s Tsongkapa Centre.

A few weeks later while in Hong Kong, Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche then gave teachings on the ten preliminaries and the initiation and commentary of Cittamani Tara.

Like all illustrious reincarnations, Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche is spearheading the growth of the Buddhadharma and bringing it to greater heights. With his tireless dedication to preserve the lineage and benefit all sentient beings, it is no wonder that Yongyal Rinpoche is highly revered in the Buddhist world, and to receive initiations or teachings from such a compassionate lama is truly a precious encounter.

Below are some wonderful pictures of Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche’s enlightened activities. We extend our gratitude to all our contributors for sending in pictures and news – may we bring the activities of great Lamas such as Yongyal Rinpoche to many others throughout the world.

Admin

TAIWAN: Three Days of Initiations in Thoesam Norling Buddhist Centre, Taipei

On 4 January 2015, Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche gave the initiations and commentaries of Yamantaka, Guhyasamaja and Vajrayogini to ordained and lay practitioners in Thoesam Norling Buddhist Centre in Taipei, Taiwan. It was a joyous three day event and an auspicious way to start the new year.

Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche and his students liberating animals before starting the pujas and initiations

Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche (centre), Achok Rinpoche (left) and Sharpei Rinpoche (right)

A group photo with Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche’s Taiwanese students

Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche and his loyal and dedicated assistant, Achok Rinpoche

Abundant offerings set up for the initiations

Offering body, speech and mind to Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche

Many Taiwanese students flocked to the centre to receive initiations from Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche

From left to right: Ven Achok Rinpoche, Ven. Serkong Tritul Rinpoche, Ven. Dromtug Rinpoche

TAIWAN: Medicine Buddha Initiation in Tsongkapa Centre

On 10 January 2015, Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche also gave a Medicine Buddha initiation in Taipei’s Tsongkapa Centre, a much needed practice in today’s world which is divided by war, suffering and abuse.

Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche arrives in Taipei’s Tsongkhapa Centre

Warmly welcomed by the members of the centre

Wearing a traditional lama’s coat

The Ven. Panglung Kuten makes offerings of body, speech and mind to Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche

Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche remained in Taiwan for many days giving teachings and initiations to the sangha and laity present

Dorje Shugden lamas continue to teach and uphold the pure lineage of Je Tsongkapa, regardless of the obstacles presented by the ban

HONG KONG: The Ten Preliminaries and Cittamani Tara Initiation

On 25 January 2015, Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche gave teachings on the ten preliminaries and the initiation and commentary of Cittamani Tara. Yongyal Rinpoche also gave regular teachings while staying in Ven. Geshe Tenzin Palchok’s dharma centre in Hong Kong.

Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche gave teachings on the ten preliminaries and Cittamani Tara initiation

Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche (left) and Ven. Geshe Tenzin Palchok (far right)

Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche also gave private teachings to a small group of students at Ven. Geshe Tenzin Palchok’s dharma center

Ven. Achok Rinpoche (right) arrived in Hong Kong from India, after giving a set of initiations and teachings to the monks and lay people in Serpom Monastery.

H.E. Daknak Rinpoche

In the fantasy world, we have superheroes, like Spiderman, who capture the minds of countless children everywhere with their superhuman powers and abilities. But in Tibetan Buddhism, we have super erudite and highly attained Lamas who attract thousands of followers, both ordained and lay, because of their selflessness and great compassion to benefit all beings. One such highly revered lama is H.E. the 14th Daknak Rinpoche who has thousands of followers in Tibet and Taiwan.

H.E. Daknak Rinpoche is highly respected in Taiwan, a country where Tibetan Buddhism is rare and less popular compared to the mainstream Mahayana Buddhist tradition. However, Daknak Rinpoche’s great dedication and hard work in spreading the Gelug lineage in this region eventually led to the founding of the Daknak Genden Lhundup Monastery in Taiwan.

Today, H.E. Daknak Rinpoche travels frequently between Taiwan and Tibet, and also to other countries around the world to expound the great teachings of Lama Tsongkapa and the protector Dorje Shugden. Most recently, Daknak Rinpoche personally presided over a four-day puja: a one-day Yamantaka peaceful Fire Puja and a three-day Medicine Buddha Puja.

Fire pujas are an excellent way to pacify the results of our unwholesome actions, and to clear away obstacles and challenges. In addition, the Medicine Buddha puja is a popular practice especially within Asian communities as it promotes healing and longevity.

Dedication cards were produced for both pujas, a common practice in Chinese temples across Asia where sponsors write dedications for themselves or their loved ones. It is wonderful to see aspects of local culture infused with Tibetan Buddhism in Daknak Rinpoche’s monastery.

We at DorjeShugden.com rejoice to receive such wonderful news about one of the most respected Dorje Shugden lamas of our time and we look forward to hearing more great news of H.E. Daknak Rinpoche and other great masters that in their immense compassion, selflessness and skillful means, have captured the minds of all they meet.

H.E. Daknak Rinpoche in full dakini ritual garb

Bountiful offerings for the Medicine Buddha puja

Offerings for the fire puja neatly arranged

H.E. Daknak Rinpoche performing fire puja

Handwritten dedication cards

Many of Daknak Rinpoche’s Taiwanese students attended the event

For more information about H.E. Daknak Rinpoche:

The Opening of a New Dorje Shugden Monastery
Kyabje 13th Daknak Rinpoche Teaching LAMRIM
Daknak Rinpoche visits Segyu Gaden Phodrang

I have been edging to write this for the longest time to share this view of what has been both draining my well-being as well as empowering my spiritual self to clear the frustration and negative emotions arising from this unfortunate spiritual suppression.

Loving Shugden

At the early time, entering into the teaching of the Tathagata,
you rose in the form of Vinaya-holding Bhikshu,
thus you protect all the teachings of the Sravaka-Pitaka without exception, I prostrate to you.

As we all know and agree that Dorje Shugden is by no fault an enlightened Being of the highest nature. Openly portraying himself as the sacred protector of Manjunatha Je Tsongkhapa’s teachings, he had vowed to arise as an UNCOMMON protector of the sublime Gaden lineage. This form which He has dutifully taken in order to serve his Spiritual Master with the interest to preserve the holy lineage which is unmistakenly clear and lucidly outlines the path to Supreme Enlightenment.

It is therefore with great responsibility that this noble monk, Je Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen in his lifetime chose to arise during his murder as this uncommon protector. The controversies surrounding this historical figure today has lead to many uncalled for mental anguish and material deprivation. The ban since its conceptualization and beginning has pushed Tibetan Buddhism especially the lineage of the Gaden tradition to the forefront. Both negative and positive feedback has been received by the media and people around the world which denotes the amount of care and hate people have for this deity.

The current result; people have heard about Tibetan Buddhism, Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, Lamas, Rinpoches, Geshes, and of course Dorje Shugden. Without any doubt it has triggered in the recipient’s mind that such things exist. Those who are concerned showed signs of care which triggers the dormant compassion in them, allowing a seed of liberation in the form of Compassion and Love to sprout in barren grounds of today’s world of advanced technology.

Those who show hate and malice towards the deity, lineage masters and that of the tradition collects a certain amount of negative karma but in nature connects with the Buddha nature within. A Buddha is a Buddha, any thought of hatred or malice would not harm Him, but only plant seeds of enlightenment for the future. Either way things will work out fine.

The ancient Kadampa masters always tells us to think with broad and expansiveness of the mind, look further into the future and we shall be able to do more to benefit others. Such is the nature of an enlightened Mind which we need to badly nurture. This thought coupled with compassion and skillful means brings us yonder to a world better known as Bliss.

The wisdom Buddha Dorje Shugden’s encompassing qualities of body, speech, mind, qualities and activities renders such an amazing chance for sentient beings who are sunk in the seas of Samsara to be able to obtain his sacred blessing in this way. He is therefore a Buddha WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION!

Je Pabongkha Dechen Nyingpo, HH Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang, HH Zong Dorje Chang, HH Zemey Dorje Chang are lineage masters without fault in conduct and practice which we can see living proofs of what these masters have contributed towards the people of Tibet and humanity in itself. The spread of the untainted doctrine of Lama Tsongkhapa through these masters of which have benefitted thousands in India, China, Mongolia and Tibet during the prime time of their life has made so much impact in the minds of those who receive their teachings.

Today, we see their lineage grow through hardworking living masters who have transformed from practice and perfected them before passing onto others whom in turn made a huge impact in their life. How is this possible? The enlightened mind works in reference to the happiness of other people and not on the self. Hence, the protector of these highly evolved beings is definitely a Buddha of great Compassion!

Within a short span of time and given the geographical and demographical set downs of Tibet, the practice of Dorje Shugden has definitely outshone many older teachings which had originated in Tibet. During times of hardship when the people and their religion was put down badly to the point of extermination, Dorje Shugden held these people within the folds of his robes and ensured them safety. Such is the display of his unfeigned powers of protection.

A good example was Dorje Shugden’s powers in shielding the Dalai Lama on HH’s escape from Lhasa to India. Without doubt Dorje Shugden’s powers have ensured a nation in exile to have a spiritual leader today. Definitely to be able to protect the Dalai Lama from the Red Guard would not only mean skillful magical powers but the merit to put on hold negative karma from ripening on the people who will be without a refuge in the world. Dorje Shugden is the wrathful King of Dharma Protectors in which we can take refuge for whatever obstacles we may face for His might is infallible!

Uncommon in any tradition of Buddhism, Dorje Shugden arises to teach when the Dharma is degenerating. True to his predecessor’s personalities, Dorje Shugden is a master of both Sutras and Tantric teachings. On top of that, he is the sacred holder of the Vinaya which is the root of all Buddhist texts, views and attainments.

From time to time through his emanations, trances and magical manifestations, Dorje Shugden has arisen and will arise to propagate the special view of Je Tsongkhapa. From here we can see that Dorje Shugden does not only support other Lamas and Rinpoche’s well being for them to spread the sacred Dharma, he takes it upon himself to do the job at times. This makes him a very special being and protector because he provides the SAME PROTECTION to both Dharma and sentient beings.

Recollecting the above few points which I have highlighted, it is safe for us to accept and love Dorje Shugden. A protector Buddha with characteristics such as I’ve mentioned above would not harm anyone regardless who they are. If they cannot harm beings such as Trijang Rinpoche, why would He want to harm HHDL and the cause of Tibet? If he is so malicious, it would be right for Trijang Rinpoche, the junior tutor of HHDL to warn us also. If Trijang Rinpoche is wrong, HHDL will have to be wrong also! And there goes the rest of the world of Buddhism.

Loving Dorje Shugden means to embrace the teachings of his spiritual master, Je Tsongkhapa. By practicing the paths of Lojong(Mind Transformation), Lamrim(Stages of the Path) and Mahamudra(the Great Seal) one delights the heart of Dorje Shugden and we will be blessed. A demon would not require this of us to make him happy. A demon would only want flesh and blood from jealousy and malice to destroy ourselves and the people around us. Love, for many of us is attachment, love for Dorje Shugden is Liberation.

Love all Lamas

We are fortunate to be able to be reborn in this era where technology has brought our living standards to a point whereby we do not need to endure hardships for our daily needs. Our material needs are pretty much taken care of. Education is affordable though may vary according to our family background but we will not be easily left uncared for. On top of that, we are more fortunate to have met our Spiritual Guide of a valid tradition stemming from Buddha Shakyamuni’s time. If we have such fortune, we should really appreciate and rejoice in the merits which we have amassed over time.

With technology also, we have access to highly evolved beings such as HHDL and Lamas of traditions of Lord Buddha. These traditions sprouted when Dharma was bare in the lands of barbarians and these masters and their patriachs went through hardships and sacrifice to establish the good news of the sacred Dharma in these lands. We need to understand the nature of Dharma which is very precious and not easy to phatom in the minds of the unsown. The amount of love, work, cajoling, beating, punishments etc in order to get the Dharma settled within our mindstream.

Whether their actions are wrathful or peaceful, their motivation is focused in bringing the Dharma, the nectar which is the medicine to heal our sufferings and negative emotions. This is done in order to uplift us and bring us to come to terms with ourselves in peace and happiness. And on a higher level, empower us to empower others with the holy words and practice of the Omniscient Lord Buddha. This is done in order to preserve the wondrous holy Dharma which we have received much benefit from. We need to keep it alive so that the generations that come after us may be able to benefit from it as well.

Different views and points highlighted during the process of teaching and disseminating the Dharma is often misread as means to oppose another party. The differences in teachings are not meant to be contradictory but to be complimentary by the Buddha himself. This is further elucidated by masters of the Middle view such as the great mendicant Nagarjuna, Lord of the Pervasive view. When you structurally put it focused onto smaller things and put people into view on a single subject, we would not be able to achieve harmony in terms of realizing the essence of what these views has been put onto us.

Similarly when we approach one Lama and we are taught one thing but the next Lama whom we meet teaches us something contradicting, we should examine ourselves and not the qualified Lamas. Traditionally, when we engage in practice with one Lama, we should stick to only His Eminence and not move to another without the permission of the first. This is clearly stated in the 50 verses of Guru Devotion.

We should not be masters of ourselves and make decisions for our spiritual path without proper consultation and permission from our current gurus. From this, we create causes to be suitable vessels for the Dharma to be in us. Our minds will be at ease and not cluttered from the things we hear. Having dispelling unnecessary obstacles, we create a platform for attainments and realizations to grow within ourselves.

Hence, it is important to LOVE OUR LAMAS and in abiding with their wishes, we create a very harmonious platform for teachers of all traditions to teach their disciples in accordance with their dispositions. This is very essential of today’s world as this would have lessened the sufferings of members of the Sangha who have worked very hard in getting the sacred Dharma to us. By loving our Lamas, we LOVE ALL LAMAS from every tradition and lineage of Lord Buddha disregarding race, color and orientation. Making the Buddhist world a better place to study and gain realization from our practice.

Our minds are weak, hence we need the nectar of our Lama’s speech to empower us to be better people. With concentration and discerning analysis of our Lamas’ words, we are not easily confused and will have the faith to act in accord with our Lama’s wishes to get things done for the happiness of many. The confusion with the Dorje Shugden ban would be easily lifted if it we loved our Lamas without agenda for ourselves. This would have cleared much doubt and confusion with the people of Tibet suffering from the ban. For us watching from the front, we should look deeper into the problem and understand it thoroughly before we jump into any conclusion.

Creating this strong loving platform of awareness, we save many people from undesired state of confusion and unhappiness. I am writing this to create awareness for us to have clean Samayas with our Spiritual Guide for it is through them many attainments will arise in our mind stream. Loving our teacher means we listen to EVERYTHING THEY SAY and follow all the way.

Heal the world

Healing a world damaged and hurt by pollutions of the mind and physical pollution is by far the hardest and most mind boggling task to do in this era and time. Convenience is the great cause for this to happen. The peace which we envision for the world today might not be what we can achieve with our own two hands. But here’s what I think is possible:

Promoting the Gaden tradition:

Our tradition is rich with the fruits of all four schools of Buddhism in Tibet (Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, Kadam) we shall promote Lama Tsongkhapa’s tradition in accordance with the disposition of the people of today. People from all walks of life should bask in the sunshine of the Gaden tradition. In doing so, we promote spiritual harmony amongst other schools too!

Dorje Shugden – Protector of Universal Peace

Like the mother Matzu of China/Taiwan, this deity has been honored by the UNESCO as one of its world peace ambassadors. We can write and promote Dorje Shugden as means of UNIVERSAL PEACE for all.

Go Vegetarian

Peace is a result of non-violence, I urge everyone who reads this to dedicate one week of your vegetarian diet towards this cause. Make a prayer to Dorje Shugden and dedicate it to this cause. Earnest prayers coupled with action begets results.

Raise awareness of the sufferings of suppression

Monks who are practitioners of Dorje Shugden are suppressed for their religious beliefs, we need to raise awareness about this matter and release these monks from their confusion and mental turmoil.

Prayer of Universal Peace

I believe Dorje Shugden promises peace within ourselves and to the people around us whom we love. He is Manjushri, lord of ultimate wisdom who cuts asunder our negative emotions and provides us with the wisdom needed for a better world. Doing his prayer COLLECTIVELY would create the causes for this to happen.

Above are 5 points which I have in mind through this website which we can help achieve Universal Peace and in return create causes for the ban to be lifted. Do take a good read and give your feedback on what we can do to make this happen!

As no-one desires the slightest suffering
Nor ever has enough of happiness,
There is no difference between myself and others,
So let me make others joyfully happy – bless me thus!

Harry Nephew
dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=1605.0

The video shows the annual sacred festival of the Buddha of Medicine performed at Serpom Monastery. At 0:21 – 0:24 a picture of the Venerable Abbot of Serpom Monastery Kyabjye Yongyal Rinpoche is clearly displayed. He is the holder of the Gaden Oral tradition.

Born in Tibet in 1948, Kyabje Yongyal Dorjechang was recognized as the fourth reincarnation of his line by H.H. Kyabje Trijang Dorjechang. At the age of six he was enthroned at Sera-Mey Monastery. In 1959 he left Tibet and settled in India.

He studied the five major texts for more than twenty years and thereby received his Geshe Lharampa degree in the year 1980. Kyabje Dorjechang then completed all his Tantric studies at Gyurmey Tantric University. He has, meanwhile, received numerous Dharma transmissions and initiations from H.H. Kyabje Trijang Dorjechang, Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche and so on.

Kyabje Dorjechang has taught extensively in the monastery for about fourteen years. He also gave teachings and empowerment in Tibet.

To fulfil spiritual wishes and aspiration of number of people, he paid visit to many countries including Australia, Singapore, and Taiwan. However, he has made great contribution to the preservation of Buddhism and the world peace. And Kyabje Dorjechang also leads Lamrim International Dharma Center in USA.

Source : http://www.serpommonastery.org/monasticadministrators.html

Kyabje 13th Daknak Rinpoche from Sera Jey, teaching LAMRIM in Taiwan Gadenpa. (Video is in Tibetan – no subtitles).

For more information about H.E. Daknak Rinpoche:

The Opening of a New Dorje Shugden Monastery
Daknak Rinpoche celebrates Lama Tsongkhapa Day in Taiwan
Daknak Rinpoche visits Segyu Gaden Phodrang

Ganden Dhokhang Buddhist Center
5th Floor, No. 11, 79 Lane,
Taichung Harbor Road
Sec. 1, West District
Taichung
Taiwan (ROC)
Email: clpc1232006@yahoo.com.tw

台中市
西區
中港路一段
79巷11號, 5FL

Another Monastery with Dorje Shugden in Nepal!

H.E. Tritul Rinpoche of Taiwan is building this new monastery that incorporates Dorje Shugden as the main protector. When completed, it will house over 1,000 monks and located in Kathmandu, Nepal. It is incredible. The work started around a year ago and is in full progress now.

Another Monastery with Dorje Shugden as it’s main protector springing up. That is fantastic.

Also Tritul Rinpoche is simultaneously building a Dorje Shugden based Monastery in Taiwan. Fantastic!

(extracted from the Forum)

Building by His Eminence Serkong Tritul Rinpoche of Ganden Jangtze Monastery. As predicted, Dorje Shugden’s practice will grow bigger and mainstream in the world. It may ‘suffer’ suppression in the Tibetan Communities, but in Democratic free societies of the world, it will grow.

In the West, we have great Temples of Dorje Shugden by the Mahapandita Geshe Kelsang and in the east, now Serkong Tritul Rinpoche who is building, creating and preserving this holy lineage.

These great lamas are the pioneers of Dorje Shugden’s lineage to the non-Tibetan worlds through their skill, speech, perseverance, guru devotion, focus, knowledge, attainments to be able to do this kind of massive work. They can plan, raise massive sponsorship, teach, inspire, and preserve the lineage, so surely these great masters show the power of their inner attainments.

It brings inspiration to all of us. We rejoice also for their dedicated, hardworking, and focused students, who have committed from their hearts to their gurus to accomplish the results of their pure samaya (damtsig) to assist their masters in this great work.

Eh Ma Ho! May the precious noble victory banner of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s pure aspirations manifested by Dorje Shugden arise stronger and stronger to bring a dharma renaissance to this world in much need of it.

May all those who follow Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s pure prayers see the eastern sun blaze soon!

Pictures extracted from http://bestek.com.tw/gelugpa/thread.php?fid=37中華格魯巴佛學論壇

Updated August 2010

Updated April 2009

Updated in 2008